Shining Star
Chairman Kim Jong II devoted his whole life to the prosperity of his country and the happiness of the people.
N. Korean Embassy celebrates ‘Day of the Shining Star’ (VIDEO)
By Khmer Times
The Embassy of North Korea to Cambodia celebrated on Wednesday the 82nd anniversary of its former leader, Chairman Kim Jong II, who devoted his whole life to the prosperity of his country and the happiness of the people.
According to the North Korean state, Jong Il was born on February 16, 1942, on Mt Paektu, the auspicious birthplace of the Korean nation. His birthday, which is one of the major holidays in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK), is also known as the “Day of the Shining Star”. The name has its origins in the tale of the night of his birth, where it is purported that a shooting star heralded his coming. Henceforth, he was often referred to as the “shining” or “bright” star.
The celebration of Jong Il’s birth anniversary was presided over by DPRK Ambassador to the Kingdom Jang Yun Gon and attended by government officials, Koreans, and members of the media.
While delivering his remark, Ambassador Yun Gon underscored the heroism of Jong Il as well as his devotion to and sacrifices for the country and people of North Korea.
“Comrade Kim Jong Il’s was a great leader who was totally devoted to the country’s prosperity and people’s happiness,” he said. “Through tireless ideological and theoretical actions, he has turned the revolutionary ideology of (first) President Kim Il Sung into ‘Kimilsungism’ and the state ideology of the North Korean people.”
“The people of North Korea consider Comrade Kim Jong Il the eternal leader of their party and country, and in good faith, they are committed to continuing his legacy and working for his causes.”
The ambassador also highlighted the strong historical ties between Cambodia and North Korea.
“The friendship between North Korea and Cambodia, which is based on the brotherly ties between Comrade Kim Il Sung and His Majesty King Norodom Sihanouk, is entering its 60th year of diplomatic relations,” he added.
“Our North Korean government will continue our hard work and work hard with the Royal Government of Cambodia, under the leadership of Prime Minister Hun Manet, to strengthen and enhance our friendship and cooperation in areas.”
Speaking on behalf of the Cambodian government, Som Visal, Secretary of State of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, expressed Cambodia’s commitment to taking the Cambodia-North Korea relationship to the next level.
“This year marks the 60th anniversary of our countries’ diplomatic relations, and I strongly hope that the Kingdom of Cambodia and the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea will continue to maintain and strengthen this traditional friendship, both bilaterally and multilaterally, for the mutual interest of our two peoples as well as for peace, stability, and shared prosperity in the region,” he said.
The late King Sihanouk and Il-Sung were the architects of the bilateral relationship after their first encounter at the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) meeting in Belgrade in 1961.
The relationship flourished from 1965 to the early 1990s, as both countries stood on the same side during the Cold War.
The new coalition government in Cambodia, established after the UN-supervised general election in 1993, continued to maintain good relations with North Korea, with both sides signing an agreement to create the Cambodia-DPRK Joint Committee to strengthen bilateral ties.
Cambodia is among the five Southeast Asian countries that have an embassy in Pyongyang.
Read more here.
Kim Yo Jong “DPRK Open to Visit”
From Reports
Japan is "paying attention" to remarks by the sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un suggesting a visit to Pyongyang by Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida could be possible, the top government spokesman said Friday.
At a press conference, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi declined to elaborate on her statement carried by North Korean media.
In the statement, Kim Yo Jong said a visit could happen if Tokyo does not make the issue of the abductions an obstacle between the two countries, describing the issue as “settled.”
The United States supports Japan's efforts to engage with North Korea, a senior diplomat said Thursday.
"We support any kind of diplomacy and dialogue with (North Korea)," Jung Pak, a U.S. State Department official responsible for North Korean affairs, told reporters.
Kim Yo Jong, said Kishida may be able to visit Pyongyang if Tokyo does not make the abduction issue an obstacle for the two countries' future relations.
"There will be no reason for the two countries not to become close and the day of the prime minister's Pyongyang visit might come," she said.
Officials of Japan, which has never had diplomatic ties with North Korea, have rushed to read between the lines of the statement that she described as containing "my personal view only."
Kishida, who is struggling with low approval ratings, has expressed his desire to meet with the North Korean leader to resolve the issue of Pyongyang's abductions of Japanese nationals in the 1970s and 1980s.
In the statement, however, the leader's sister, a vice department director of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea, reiterated Pyongyang's position that the issue has already been resolved and there is no room for negotiation.
When asked whether there has been close cooperation with Japan on its potential talks with North Korea, Pak said she is confident about the level of coordination and sharing of information that Washington has with Tokyo and Seoul.
"I think it's too soon to say if something might happen, but I think the close coordination and the fact that we talk so frequently is always good to have before something happens," said Pak, who has recently taken on the duties of U.S. special representative for North Korean affairs after Sung Kim's retirement.
Pak, deputy assistant secretary for East Asian affairs, also said the United States remains open to dialogue with North Korea. She believes Kim Jong Un has decided now is not the time to have dialogue and diplomacy on US terms.
For North Korea, the enormous potential offered by Russia, China, BRICS+ and other emerging and developing economies holds far greater appeal than a diminished US and G7.